Focus on mental health across the Isle and North Lincolnshire

The big tour truck will visit set locations to provide information on anxiety – how to prevent it, manage it and where to go for help.

People can also have their health checked and receive information on keeping fit and healthy.

The tour truck will visit Glanford Park football ground car park, Scunthorpe, on Monday, May 12 from 11am to 3pm, and Tata Steel on May 13 from noon to 2pm.

Your mental health affects every part of your life, including your family, relationships, physical health and work and leisure time. There are certain activities that improve your mental health and emotional wellbeing.

There are a range of sessions to keep active, including Sky Ride bike rides – local bike rides across North Lincolnshire starting on May 18, or Parkrun – a weekly five kilometre run that takes place in Central Park, Scunthorpe, every Saturday at 9am.

Active Ageing aims to get older people and adults with a disability more active more often. It can offer communities a range of services. Finally, Back2Sport is an innovative project that delivers accessible sport and physical activity opportunities across North Lincolnshire, in the heart of communities.

To find out more, visit the leisure pages on the council’s website: www.northlincs.gov.uk/leisure/sports-play-and-community-development/community-sports-adults-16/

Other ways of improving your mental health include asking for help, eating healthily, socialising with friends and family, learning new skills and talking to people about it.

There is much support available, for more details visit: www.northlincs.gov.uk/people-health-and-care/health-and-healthy-lifestyle/improving-mental-health/

Latest figures from the Mental Health Foundation* show that one in four people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives, that around one in 10 children experience mental health problems, depression affects around one in 12 of the whole population, and that 450m people worldwide have a mental health issue.

Frances Cunning, Director of Public Health, said: “We are joining in the national Mental Health Awareness Week campaign here in North Lincolnshire to try and make a difference. Mental health is something many people don’t want to talk about as there is often a stigma attached to it. But the reality is, mental health is a common illness and affects thousands of people across the country.

“Through this campaign we want to raise awareness of mental health and increase people’s understanding of it. This year we will speak to people about how to prevent and manage anxiety, as well as signposting people to advice services. If you have any questions about mental health or want to know more go along to one of the sessions.”

North Lincolnshire Council will be taking the Time to Change pledge. Time to Change is an organisation lead by mental health charities Mind and Rethink mental illness. The pledge is a public statement that the organisation wants to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination. Taking the pledge is part of the work the council is doing to promote a mentally healthy workplace.